Working with your research site

Instructors: Sterling and Grosser

Struggling to gain access to an organization to collect data for your project? Having problems generating a high enough response rate? Collecting social network data presents some unique problems, organizational decision makers are often unfamiliar with the methods and aims of our research and the relational nature of social network data requires high response rates while making it impossible to guarantee anonymity to our respondents. These obstacles create a greater need to have organizational decision makers invested in your project, a greater need to build trust and rapport with your respondents, and a greater need to establish your identity within the organization. This module is aimed at maximizing response rate and building a long-term relationship with your organization by discussing several different techniques used throughout the project life cycle including: gaining access to research sites, building trust with participants, logistical issues, and reporting results back to respondents/management. This module will particularly focus on conducting research inside companies and business organizations